Margaret Hennessy-Devaney

In June 2003, Margaret went in for a routine mammogram.  When over a week passed without a call from her doctor, she assumed that her results had been normal.  However, two weeks after her mammogram was administered, she received a card in the mail stating that an irregularity had been found in the image.  Though this news left her uneasy, her doctors did not seem to consider the situation especially urgent, as they scheduled her follow-up appointment for one month later. 

At her next appointment, Margaret’s radiologist told her that the most recent images had come back negative, but that she should probably see a surgeon for a precautionary biopsy.  Margaret heeded this advice, and found herself in surgery for breast cancer in August 2003. 

Despite the lag in diagnosis, Margaret’s tumor was discovered at an early stage, and she was able to bypass chemotherapy for a 7 week radiation therapy regimen.  Though she experienced some swelling in her feet and face from ancillary drugs that were administered post-radiation to decrease the chances of recurrence, Margaret’s treatment went smoothly and has left her cancer-free for over 2 years.

Though Margaret’s cancer occurred in her breast, her experience led her to consider her family history of the disease and to take the precautions necessary to prevent it from recurring at another site.  As her mother was unable to recover from ovarian cancer, Margaret decided to have her ovaries removed as a preventive measure against this illness.  Though this was not a decision she took lightly, she encourages women (especially those over 50) to look into their family histories of cancer, and to talk with their doctors about preventive measures that could save their lives. Margaret also encourages all women to receive a mammogram by the age of 40, as well as to seek out a doctor if they suspect any irregularities.  She emphasizes that preventive care is often best, and is quite likely to save lives.